7 Reasons Why Marijuana Is Beneficial for Your Brain

Though latest cannabis
studies show the positive effect of marijuana on the brain, there are
still many misconceptions about cannabis possibly damaging the brain
activity. To dispel your doubts on this issue, MJWellness has
prepared a list of seven science-backed reasons why cannabis is
beneficial for your brain.

1. Weed Compounds Calm Down
Alzheimer’s Patients

Several clinical trials have investigated the impact
of cannabinoids on the emotional state of Alzheimer's patients.

A double-blind study
with a placebo-controlled group showed the positive results of
administering cannabis to 12 patients who suffered from
Alzheimer-induced dementia. After six weeks of daily treatment with 5
mg of delta 9-THC, the patient's behavior became more stable.

During another study,
Israel researchers treated ten patients with medical marijuana oil
and found a significant reduction in the psychological symptoms of
dementia. They concluded that cannabis might be a promising treatment
option for patients with Alzheimer's disease.

How can medical marijuana help with… ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE?

Alzheimer's disease is a chronic neurodegenerative (brain-damaging) disease that typically starts at old age, and worsens over time. Before development of modern brain diagnostics, AD has not been recognized as illness, but was characterized as mental condition associated with aging.

2. Cannabis Reduces Brain
Inflammation

Brain inflammation leads
to many severe ailments, including Alzheimer's disease. According to
Gary
Wenk, Ph.D., who has been studying this condition for more than
25 years, brain inflammation begins after the age of thirty and
continuously reduces the production of neurons responsible for making
new memories.

Wenk is sure that smoking one joint of weed per day
is enough to protect the brain from inflammation. The available
findings of studies conducted on animals and humans with Alzheimer's
disease show that medium chronic exposure to marijuana during
mid-life significantly reduces brain inflammation that may lead to
Alzheimer's disease.

3. Marijuana Slows Development of
Neurodegenerative Disorders

Marijuana's chemical compounds are effective at
preventing the diseases related to the brain and the central nervous
system, scientific studies show.

A trial
carried out on animal models found that CBD could potentially relieve
neural inflammation in rats injected with amyloid-beta protein, which
supposedly causes Alzheimer's disease.

A 2014 study
conducted at the University of South Florida discovered that even low
doses of THC decreased the production of amyloid-beta. Cannabis also
stimulated the mitochondrial function, which improved signals and
energy supply in brain cells, according to the study's author
Chuanhai Cao, Ph.D.

5 Ways Cannabis Helps People With Multiple Sclerosis

People all over the country find great relief from the symptoms of multiple sclerosis by adding marijuana to their treatment. Cannabis can ease many symptoms of the condition and become an alternative to many conventional drugs.

4. Weed Protects Brain From Toxicity
in Neurons

Some scientific studies show that marijuana can
reduce the toxicity in the brain and thus protect the brain cells
from damage. For instance, during a cannabis-related study
that investigated the high levels of iron in the brain cells of rats
suffering from neurodegenerative diseases, researchers discovered
that CBD protected the rapid cell death caused by iron. In another
study,
THC reduced the levels of glutamate that had increased in the brain
cells after a traumatic brain injury.

Researchers claim that the increased toxicity in
brain cells that may appear over the years leads to strokes and
hearing disorders, as well as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s
diseases. However, the cannabis compounds can potentially protect an
aging brain from toxic build up.

5. Marijuana Stimulates Growth of
New Brain Cells

Studying the effects of cannabis on the
endocannabinoid system, scientists have discovered that weed
compounds can impact brain cell growth.

A marijuana-related study
on lab mice showed that weed cannabinoids stimulated hippocampal
neurogenesis, the growth of brain cells responsible for anxiety and
depression and, at the same time, for memory and learning.

The following study
carried out at the University of Saskatchewan found that a synthetic
cannabinoid promoted the growth of new brain neurons in the
hippocampal area and alleviated stressful feelings in laboratory
rats. The researchers concluded that cannabis was the only prohibited
substance that increased the growth of hippocampal neurons and acted
as a natural antidepressant.

Chronic Cannabis Use Reduces Brain Blood Flow

While American states are rushing to legalize marijuana use, a recent study has discovered that chronic cannabis consumers have poor blood circulation in the brain areas that are usually damaged by Alzheimer's disease.

6. Cannabis Protects Brain From
Serious Damage

Brain injuries have severe cognitive outcomes that
may result in chronic headaches, difficulties in thinking or
recognition, lack of attention, or mood swings. Scientists who
investigated the potential therapeutic effects of cannabis discovered
that THC protected the brain from serious damage caused by traumatic
injuries.

In a study
carried out at Tel Aviv University, researchers provided a long-term
treatment with low THC doses to rats with brain damage. The findings
showed that cannabis could protect the brain from seizures, hypoxia,
and toxic drugs.

These results were confirmed by another study
that analyzed the condition of 446 brain trauma patients of a
California hospital. The THC-positive patients were 80% less likely
to die from their injuries than those who had not consumed cannabis
previously. Though this study did not show a direct link between
marijuana use and survival after brain injuries, it provided evidence
that cannabinoids were beneficial for post-traumatic recovery.

7. Marijuana Heals Brain Damage
Induced by Strokes

Strokes are not less harmful to people than
traumatic brain injuries as they can lead to brain cell death and
paralysis. However, only recently researchers have begun to
understand how the endocannabinoid
system works during strokes. The function of
CB receptors changes when a stroke happens, which may lead to
unregulated glutamate release. However, both THC and CBD can block
the excessive production of the neurotransmitter
glutamate and prevent the death of brain
cells.

A study
found that CBD had long-lasting protective effects on the brain cells
damaged in the result of cerebral ischemia. After several days of
treatment with CBD, patients with post-ischemic trauma experienced an
improvement of motor coordination. An animal-based study
showed that marijuana had a protective impact on neuronal death
caused by ischemia stroke. These findings stand in contrast to the
popular belief that marijuana damages brain cells.

Though many questions are
still unanswered, cannabis scientists hope that these theories will
be confirmed by the results of clinical trials and eventually improve
the lives of numerous patients.

Can Cannabis Help Treat Brain After Concussion?

​A concussion is a brain injury usually caused by a blow to the head. Sub-concussions can also appear in case there are repeated minor assaults to the head and jowl. Would it not be great to prevent brain damage from blows before it occurs? Can any medicine speed up brain’s healing processes? Scientists believe cannabis can.

The healing properties of cannabis are quite impressive. In addition to a plethora of illnesses treated with cannabinoids, researchers have also revealed the potential benefits of medical marijuana for relieving the symptoms of Huntington’s disease.